Capitals vs. Islanders Game 4 Recap: Washington Escapes Elimination

In a must win game Washington was powered by their Captain to a 3 to 2 victory over the Islanders. The series is extended to Thursday at least.

Here’s Tuesday night’s Plus/Minus:

Plus: Don’t call it a comeback (even though the Capitals had to comeback tonight). Mission accomplished.

Minus: The first twenty minutes of play from Washington was unacceptable. The Capitals exited the period down by two goals and thanking each of the three posts behind Braden Holtby.

Seven more notes on the game:

1. Early in the first period J.G. Pageau put the Islanders ahead seconds after an early Brenden Dillon penalty expired. Pageau deflected a Scott Mayfield shot off the ice and up over Holtby’s shoulder.
2. Mat Barzal extended that lead to five minutes later. He put the puck on net during a fast rush and Holtby was unable to get a body part in front of it.
3. In a penalty filled start to the second Evgeny Kuznetsov got Washington on the scoreboard with his third of the series. Dashing down the ice with possession Kuznetsov skated to the crease and tucked the puck behind Semyon Varlamov to give the Capitals life.
4. Then Alex Ovechkin scored on his former teammate with a power play goal to tie the game. A cross ice pass from John Carlson allowed Alex to lean into his shot and he did not miss from his office.
5. Midway through the frame Tom Wilson buried Mayfield from behind, forcing the New York defenseman from the game. Wilson was assessed a minor (which Washington killed) and he was lucky that was it.
6. Ovechkin gave the Capitals their first lead of the game at 43:40 with help from Dmitry Orlov. The Captain skated down the right wing and willed the puck into the net with his wrist shot (as he tends to do).
7. Jonas Siegenthaler was sheltered all night with less than 14 minutes of ice time but still found himself on the ice for both Islanders goals. If given a sweater Thursday night he will need to be better with his chances.